If you have a non-life threatening injury or illness and need local care with short waiting times, we can help you at your nearest minor injury unit (MIU).
We have MIUs in community hospitals based at Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater, Minehead and Burnham-on-Sea. They are all run by emergency nurse practitioners, who are nurses with specialised training and skills in emergency and urgent care. They are supported by staff nurses and healthcare assistants.
Our MIUs provide urgent care to patients closer to where they live. They keep our emergency departments free to manage critically ill patients and those with life-threatening major injuries.
Our team of emergency nurse practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of non-life threatening minor illnesses and injuries. Common examples include:
- Chest infections
- Throat infections
- Eye infections
- Urinary infections
- Emergency contraception
- Sprains and strains
- Broken bones
- Cuts and wounds
- Bites
- Minor head injuries.
If you’re not sure which service you need please use the 24/7 free NHS 111 telephone health advice line. For life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, unconsciousness and breathing problems call 999.
How you can you access these services
No appointment is needed. Just turn up during opening hours and you will be seen.
There is free car parking at all community hospital locations. You do not need to be a Somerset resident to use our MIUs.
Bridgwater – Bridgwater Community Hospital, 01278 436 555
Open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
X-ray is available at Bridgwater MIU during these times:
8:30am – 5pm Monday- Friday
9am – 5pm weekends.
Burnham-on-Sea – Burnham-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital, 01278 773103
Usual opening times 10am – 6pm seven days a week (last patient admitted at 5.30pm).
Chard – Chard Community Hospital, 01460 238229
Open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
X-Ray facilities are available at Chard Hospital’s MIU on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 08:00 and 16:00.
Frome – Frome Community Hospital, 01373 454770
Open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
X-ray is available at Frome MIU during these times:
9am – 5pm Monday- Friday
Glastonbury – West Mendip Community Hospital, 01458 836454
Open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
X-ray is available at West Mendip MIU during these times:
9am – 5pm Monday- Friday
Minehead – Minehead Community Hospital, 01643 701715
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
X-ray is available at Minehead MIU during these times:
9am – 5pm Monday- Friday
Shepton Mallet – Shepton Mallet Community Hospital, 01749 341101
Open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
X-ray is available at Shepton Mallet MIU during these times:
9am – 5pm Monday- Friday
X-ray
If your assessment requires an X-ray this will usually be done on the same day. If you arrive when the X-ray services are closed, you will be assessed and treated and then asked to return the following day for X-ray (unless time critical and you will be referred to the closest district general hospital).
Waiting times
Usually you will wait on average 40 minutes. At peak time you can wait up to two hours. On arrival, the receptionist will take your details and you will be seen as quickly as possible. Priority is based on how serious your injury is so other patients with more serious or time critical injuries may be seen more quickly.